12-point return proves decisive for Valentine
THERE was a large turn out of 75 members for the meeting of the Caithness
and Sutherland Seniors’ Golf Society at Brora last Thursday.
They enjoyed a great day’s golf over a course in excellent early season condition and in, surprise, surprise, shirt-sleeve weather.
The lower handicap players produced some fine scores with four Brora players in the top seven, but it was Thurso member Pat Valentine who came out on top, relegating home players Alistair Risk and Ian Hamilton into second and third places respectively after all returned 39 points.
Valentine and Risk both had 18 points on the way in with Valentine’s last six of 12 points proving to be decisive. Hamilton earned a handicap cut after his very good level-par effort.
Bob Black (Thurso), Murdo MacDonald (Reay) and home players Ronnie Sim and David Haden all finished with 37 points.
Royal Dornoch’s John Alford was a decisive winner of the middle handicap category with the day’s best Stableford total of 40 points that also featured the best inward nine of 21. Home player Ali MacLennon claimed runner-up spot with 36 points with 18 for each nine. Farquhar MacGregor (Wick) had 17 points on his inward nine to beat James Sutherland (Brora) into third place after both scored 35. Golspie’s Don Bremner finished a further point away, one ahead of Rob Sutherland (Wick) and Bill Ballantyne (Brora).
George Johnston (Wick) became the season’s first double winner as he added a victory in the higher handicap category at Brora to his earlier success at Reay. He needed countback to achieve his win on Thursday after he and Jerry Husband (Brora) both scored 39 points.
Bernard Ledwith (Brora) was third at Reay and also finished third over his home course with 38 points. David Gunn (Brora) and Ian Miller (Wick) were next best in the category on 35 points with Gerry O’Brien (Wick) and John Disbury (Reay) a further point back.
The society’s next meeting is at Bonar and Ardgay Golf Club on Wednesday, May 23.